Apple Pie Bars

These easy apple pie bars bring all the flavor of a homemade pie without the need for a plate, a fork, or surgical precision when lifting out the first slice.

With a buttery shortbread crust, tart cinnamon-spiced apples, and a perfectly crunchy crumb topping, they’re made for backyard BBQs, awkward office parties, or any gathering where nobody wants to do the dishes, especially the host.

 

There’s nothing more American than apple pie. Except maybe convenience food and anything you can eat without a fork. These apple pie bars fold those two traditions together into one buttery, cinnamon-spiced bite.

Even my Abuela, who built her reputation one pie at a time, might give a quiet nod of approval when no one’s looking.

No fiddly pastry, no fancy tools, no stress. Just simple steps with everyday ingredients.

It’s the kind of treat that’ll have you ‘evening out the edges’ until one whole row becomes a memory.

When you need a crowd-pleasing dessert that travels well and disappears fast, try my Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bars and Ooey Gooey Black Bottom Pecan Bars. No stress, no fuss, just the kind of treats people hover around until they’re gone.

Ingredients For Apple Pie Bars

Gather the ingredients needed to make our Apple Pie Bars recipe. Culinary professionals call this the Mise en Place, which means “Everything in its Place.”

Setting up your ingredients not only helps speed up the cooking process but also helps ensure you have all of the ingredients on hand to make the recipe.

Can I Change Up the Recipe?

Absolutely. We made the filling with Granny Smith apples, but you can use Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, or a combination of both. Just aim for tart apples that hold their shape when baked.

For the crumb topping, we used cold butter and mixed it into the flour mixture with a pastry blender; however, a fork or even your fingertips will also work just fine.

For a warmer flavor, try substituting apple pie spice or adding a dash of apple butter for a unique twist.

And if you’re feeling fancy, a drizzle of salted caramel sauce over the top of the crust would be a deliciously decadent addition.

How to Make Apple Pie Bars

• Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a 9×9” baking dish with parchment paper. Lightly grease the bottom of the prepared pan.
• Peel, core, and chop your apples into small pieces.

• Place the chopped apples, lemon juice, granulated sugar, all-purpose flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a large bowl.
• Mix to combine. Set aside until needed.
• Add the granulated sugar, all-purpose flour, cinnamon, and salt to a medium bowl.
• Whisk to combine.
• Add the butter to the dry ingredients.
• Mix to form small crumbs.

• Add the butter and sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or a large bowl and electric mixer).
• Beat for 2 minutes on medium-high speed.
• Add the vanilla extract.
• Beat until incorporated.
• Add the all-purpose flour and salt to the mixture.
• Beat until coarse, large crumbs form (about 60-90 seconds).

• Transfer the dough to the bottom of the prepared baking pan and press it into an even layer on the bottom of the pan.
• Spread the apple filling evenly over the crust.
• Sprinkle the crumb topping over the apples.
• Place the pan on the center rack of the preheated oven and bake for 50-55 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the filling is bubbly.

Place the pan on a wire rack to cool to room temperature before slicing into bars. Serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream for best results.

These homemade apple pie bars are the perfect fall treat for everything from busy get-togethers to lazy weekends when only something warm, buttery, and apple-filled will do.

One bite and suddenly you’re not sure if this was meant to be shared!

Once cooled, these apple bars can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. After that, keep them in the fridge and they’ll stay fresh for another 3–4 days. To help keep the top crust crisp, place a bit of parchment or plastic wrap between layers before stacking.

To warm them up, a few seconds in the microwave is all you need.

They freeze well, too. Wrap each bar tightly, stash them in a freezer-safe bag, and you’ve got delicious apple pie bars on standby any time the craving hits.

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